Our strategy
Our vision, purpose and strategy as a world-leader in composites.
Richard Oldfield, CEO
"We are industry's research and development partner. When companies need to make things lighter, stronger, smarter and more sustainable they come to the NCC. With access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, we help our customers solve the most complex engineering challenges of our time."
Our Story
The National Composites Centre was created as the UK’s Centre of Excellence for Composites Research and Development following the inclusion of this disruptive technology into government industrial strategy. Our task: to be recognised as a world leader in composite technology, accelerating the development and uptake of digital technologies for sustainable composites and growing the market for composites by driving innovation through collaboration and partnerships.
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Governance
Information on our Governance arrangements as a subsidiary of the University of Bristol.
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Meet the team
The NCC leadership team has extensive engineering and commercial experience across industry sectors.
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Membership at the NCC
An NCC membership gives you access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, as well as expert advice from specialist engineers.
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Academic reach
The NCC works proactively with universities across the UK and overseas in a number of ways to pull through fundamental research to industrial applications.
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Cross-Catapult programmes
We work closely with partners across the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and wider UK Catapult Network on collaborative projects.
Why choose composites?
Composites enable our everyday lives – in transport, energy, healthcare, defence, communications and leisure. Lightweight, strong, durable and adaptable, the unique properties of composites help us to design and make better products with less waste that last longer, helping us to address urgent societal challenges of sustainability and net-zero.
Our networks
High Value Manufacturing Catapult
The NCC is proud to be one of seven centres that makes up the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, which is itself one of nine Catapults created as a key tool in Innovate UK’s range of innovation support for businesses. Each Catapult is focused on an area in which the UK has the potential to grow in strategically important global markets.
Composites Leadership Forum
The National Composites Centre is a pivotal member of the UK’s Composite Leadership Forum which works to influence the Government and other bodies to bring together support for composites and ensure growth and industrial success for the UK. It is chaired and led by industry.
Composites UK Trade Association
The NCC also is a board member of Composites UK Trade Association, fully supporting its mission to encourage continuous growth and development of the industry, promoting the best practice use of composites materials. We work closely to bring companies throughout the composites supply chain together, creating a unified voice to drive the industry forward to the benefit all of those involved.
Our Members
Our latest news
News
News
Case Study
Case Study
News
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National Composites Centre featured in IOP's Physics Powering the Green Economy
28 Nov 2023The NCC's efforts towards materials development for hydrogen storage has been featured in the Institute of Physics (IOP)’s ‘Physics Powering the Green Economy’ report. Learn how our cross-sector capability aims to meet the UK’s net zero ambitions while securing future commercial competitiveness. -
The Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability, CEAMS, is launched
20 Nov 2023A new state-of-the-art centre, supporting the development and commercialisation of advanced sustainable materials, will bring high-impact investment to Rochdale and the Greater Manchester city region. The two-year Centre of Expertise in Advanced Materials and Sustainability (CEAMS) supports the development of advanced sustainable materials, and is led by a consortium of expert partners, including the NCC. -
CERCOMP UK: CMC Development, Manufacturability and Repairability
13 Nov 2023The CERCOMP UK collaborative research project advances aircraft propulsion technology, while paving the way for a secure supply of affordable advanced ceramic composites in the UK. Find out how this experience builds the HVMC consortium's capability as a lead technology cluster to help develop, expand, and diversify UK’s CMC market offerings in key industrial sectors. -
Wing of Tomorrow: Defining a new era for composites manufacturing with automated deposition and large-scale infusion
13 Nov 2023In support of Airbus' Wing of Tomorrow programme, a collaborative team of engineers at the National Composites Centre investigate materials, manufacturing, and component sub-assembly techniques to achieve a world-first full scale 17-metre integrated wing skin infused in one step. -
Unprecedented £225m investment to create UK’s most powerful supercomputer in Bristol
01 Nov 2023Details of a £225m investment from the Government to create the UK’s fastest supercomputer to be hosted at the National Composites Centre have been announced. The funding injection, part of a £300m package to create a new national Artificial Intelligence Research Resource (AIRR) for the country will make the UK a world leader in AI.
